Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Belize City Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Belize City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,138 in Belmopan versus $1,076 in Belize City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,612 in Belmopan versus $1,657 in Belize City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,086 in Belmopan versus $2,238 in Belize City.

Living in Belmopan is roughly 6% more expensive than in Belize City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belmopan 15% lower, Belize City 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 BZD 9.72

$6.34 BZD 12.67

-23.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 BZD 33.58

$39.37 BZD 78.8

-57.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 BZD 14.52

$5.87 BZD 11.75

23.68%

Cappuccino

$4.42 BZD 8.83

$3.69 BZD 7.38

19.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$1.35 BZD 2.70

-42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.95

$1.28 BZD 2.56

-62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 BZD 2.92

$2.22 BZD 4.43

-34.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.41

$3.49 BZD 6.98

-36.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BZD 4.02

$3.19 BZD 6.38

-36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 BZD 3.20

$1.27 BZD 2.54

25.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.33

$2.24 BZD 4.48

-25.89%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.77

$2.33 BZD 4.66

-18.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 BZD 18.06

$7.17 BZD 14.35

25.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 BZD 13.46

$6.61 BZD 13.23

1.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 BZD 24.07

$5.58 BZD 11.17

115.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 BZD 7.46

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 BZD 2.16

$1.45 BZD 2.91

-25.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$2.09 BZD 4.19

6.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 BZD 10.77

$2.99 BZD 5.98

80.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 BZD 5.98

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 BZD 4.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 BZD 4.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 BZD 3.02

$0.86 BZD 1.71

75.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 BZD 7.98

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 BZD 34.49

$10.09 BZD 20.18

70.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 BZD 4.60

$1.79 BZD 3.58

28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$3.26 BZD 6.51

-30.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

$1.97 BZD 3.94

104.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 BZD 40.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 BZD 6.03

$4.09 BZD 8.18

-26.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$3.89 BZD 7.79

-24.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 BZD 3.52

$1.87 BZD 3.75

-5.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$10.5K BZD 21.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 BZD 296

$209 BZD 417

-29.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.6 BZD 101

$49.60 BZD 99.2

1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.36 BZD 72.7

$54.1 BZD 108

-32.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.80 BZD 89.6

$28.19 BZD 56.4

58.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.52 BZD 5.04

Cinema Ticket

$8.99 BZD 17.99

$8.28 BZD 16.57

8.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$63.7 BZD 127

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 BZD 1,362

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.37 BZD 78.8

$37.29 BZD 74.6

5.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 BZD 44.43

$26.98 BZD 54.0

-17.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.17 BZD 98.4

$82.0 BZD 164

-40.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 BZD 125

$88.3 BZD 177

-28.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 BZD 893

$278 BZD 556

60.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BZD 640

$180 BZD 360

77.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 BZD 1,225

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 BZD 1,090

$353 BZD 705

54.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$197 BZD 394

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,231 BZD 2,463

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.83

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belmopan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Belize City: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $446 in Belmopan and $278 in Belize City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Belmopan vs $39.00 in Belize City. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $253, with Belize City cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Belmopan vs Belize City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belize City wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Belmopan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Belize City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,707 in Belmopan and $1,613 in Belize City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $446 in Belmopan versus $278 in Belize City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,138 per month in Belmopan versus $1,076 in Belize City – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Belmopan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,076 in Belize City versus $1,138 in Belmopan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Belize City but tight or insufficient in Belmopan. The gap between the two cities makes Belize City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Belmopan and Belize City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Belize City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Belmopan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.